Five Abbotsford residents recently participated in the Ride2Survive event to raise funds for cancer research.

Craig Burridge, Larry Hooge, Ryan Reed, Shane Wiens and Stephanie Klassen were among the cyclists who took part in the one-day 19-hour ride from West Kelowna to Delta on June 21.

The group surpassed its $500,000 fundraising goal by collecting more than $550,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Their day began at 2:30 a.m. with breakfast and final preparations. At 3:30 a.m. sharp, the horn sounded and the riders were off, en masse, towards their first big challenge – the Pennask Summit – a 1,700-metre climb that took just under three hours.

Kerry Kunzli, one half of the husband and wife duo who organize the event every year, said a volunteer crew was in charge of water, food, potties and rider gear at several stops along the ride.

The group arrived at the Merritt BC Visitors Centre at 9:05 a.m. and was joined by Kamloops’ 17-year-old Madison Egli, who is currently being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

She biked for a portion of the ride, joining her uncle, Gary Egli, who was participating in the full ride in her honour.

“To have Madison join us for a part of the ride was nothing less than inspirational,” said Allan Mugford, regional director for the Canadian Cancer Society, Fraser Valley region.

“The riders and volunteers spend countless hours training and more than 19 hours cycling on the event day and they do it all for people like Madison – it’s quite remarkable. We are blown away by the commitment and generosity of every single participant.”

The riders – with Madison and Gary in the lead – and crew arrived in Delta at Cap’s South Shore Cycle at 10:30 p.m. Approximately 300 supporters greeted the riders at the finish line, cheering and holding up signs to welcome each person.

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